Even before the pandemic, many businesses had begun to integrate more technology into the workplace, allowing them to innovate and adjust to the ever-changing needs of their consumers. However, with the pandemic driving forward digital transformation faster than originally planned, many business owners now have to quickly pivot their businesses to cater to the new digital economy. With many people spending most of their time at home to protect themselves from the virus, purchasing something you needed means visiting an e-commerce store through your smartphone.
And while many brick-and-mortar businesses were not initially prepared for this transition, making the digital shift is no longer a choice but an essential business strategy that all business owners need to consider. Fortunately, technology is now more affordable and user-friendly. Whether you’re a startup business owner trying to make a name in e-commerce or a veteran business owner looking to shift into digital, here are a few tips to get you started.
Bring the Focus to Customers, Not Just Products
In the past year, businesses were forced to re-evaluate their priorities. Before the pandemic, more businesses were focused on reducing business costs and improving efficiency rather than keeping an eye on quality service. Now, however, consumers are looking at brands who connect with them personally and socially. Empathy, relatability, and a sense of togetherness are just some things that drive consumers towards certain brands.
For instance, consumers are less likely to trust brands that lacked or had a delayed response to the global health crisis. In fact, 89% of consumers expect brands to have a clear stand regarding their values, while 90% expect brands to act on those values.
Streamline Your Communications Within the Business
With many companies implementing remote work setups, finding a single channel of communication for business owners, managers, and employees can be difficult and confusing. There are different ways you can do this:
Company Newsletters
Newsletters may seem old-fashioned, but they’re a useful way to disseminate any updates, news, and company reminders that employees and managers may need to know about. In the newsletter, you can also talk about company goals and new hires, among other things.
Make sure that the content of the newsletters is interesting and are only sent once a month. Send them more than once, and employees are likely to ignore them in the future.
Real-Time Chat Tools
Using different messaging apps to keep track of the different people in a business is difficult and inefficient. Real-time chat tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams can help you increase productivity and strengthen employee relations by providing a singular platform for employees to collaborate, share ideas, or even chat.
Project Management Systems
Remote work setups can make it harder for employees to keep track of their tasks, and when people have to take care of their responsibilities at home, some reminders and extra tasks can get lost in the mix.This can lead to disagreements, confusion, and difficulties moving forward, which can not only delay progress but can affect results.
Make the Shift to E-commerce
With more people turning to e-commerce platforms like Amazon to get what they need, businesses that originally relied on brick-and-mortar sales will struggle to meet those numbers in the new normal. The only way for a business to survive in the pandemic is by going into e-commerce, either by taking advantage of selling platforms or a website to show off products and services.
Establish Your Online Presence
One of the most important aspects of making the shift to digital is to build an online presence. Without it, consumers are less likely to find your business, and whatever your company goal may be, it won’t matter if your business doesn’t appear in the search engine. However, building your online presence isn’t as simple as making social media accounts and a website.
Build a Website
Most, if not all, businesses need a website. While having a social media account can come in handy, your website serves as a more detailed space for consumers to learn more about your business and, depending on its purpose, a place to direct your sales towards. Ensure that your website is also optimized for mobile, as most consumers use their smartphones when making online purchases.
Have an Effective Social Media Strategy
Social media accounts and mobile-optimized websites are a great way to start building your online presence, but account managing isn’t the only thing you need if you want your business found on the first page of a Google search.Social media strategies often involve SEO, content calendars, regular posting schedules, among other things, which can easily become overwhelming if you’re not familiar with social media marketing.
If you’re not sure how to go about it, consider hiring a digital agency that can help you with marketing an e-commerce website.
Shift to Cloud Storage
Storing files in cloud-based storage is a cost-friendly way to keep your important documents in one place. It makes it easier to share and find files between employees, saves you physical space in the office, and protects your files from environmental damage like fires, tornadoes, etc.
When businesses continue to adjust to the new normal, it’s important to remember that not all digital transformation techniques will work with your business. Make sure that you use strategies tailored to your business’s needs. That will benefit both you and consumers. Make the right strategic choices that align with your brand and business goals.
